Solar Generation Status
Current Solar Energy Plot
Determining solar panel output for a known Solar Energy value:
- Determine the current Solar PV output e.g. 2800 watts when the Solar Energy reading is 571w/M2
- Calculate the Solar PV surface area e.g 14-panels each of 1.67M x 1M = 23.38M2
- Multiply panel Surface Area x Solar Energy = 23.38M2 x 571Watts = 13350 Watts
- However, actual output was: 2800 Watts, therefore conversion efficiency = 2800 / 13350 = 0.21 or 21%
- Example: Solar Energy required for 1000Watts output = 1000 * 0.21 = 210W/M2
- Example: Solar Energy = 210W/M2 then expected output = 210/0.21 = 1000Watts
Making a Solar Energy Meter
Solar panel connected to a load RL:
- Obtain a known voltage solar cell, say a 5volt 1W type
- Measure the area of your solar panel e.g. 100mm x 150mm or 0.1M x 0.15M
- Surface area = 0.1M x 0.15M = 0.0015M2
- Attach a load resistor, say 22R would be suitable for a 1W panel
- Measure voltage in sunlight, say the result is 4.2volts
- Now calculate power output using the formula Power = V2 / R
- 4.22 / 22 = 0.802W
- Solar radiation is defined as : power / area and the units are Watts / Square Metre
- Solar radiation for the output was = 0.802 / 0.0015 = 535 W/M2
- Compare with a known (accurate) Solar Energy meter e.g. Weather stations
- If actual Solar Energy was 571W/M2 when the output was measured, then apply a calibration factor in this example of : 571/535 = 1.067 to account for panel characteristics.
- Now Solar Energy can be determined by measuring the solar panel output under load using a microcontroller ADC input, that measures the RLoad voltage
- Then Solar Energy = ( (VRLoad) 2/ Rload ) / 0.0015 * 1.067
float Solar Energy = sq(analogRead() * calibrationfactor) / Rload / 0.0015 * 1.067;
where ‘calibrationfactor’ is an ADC correction constant used to adjust ADC for accuracy, eg true voltage is 3v but ADC measured 2.9v, then factor = 3/2.9
Solar System Schematic